Name: __________________________________
How to write your explanation paragraph:
I would like you to tell me the context, meaning, and significance of the quote you choose from Oedipus or Antigone. I will give
you an example from Oedipus that doesn’t fit the themes we discussed, so you won’t be tempted to copy this example in your
explanation.
Quote: “I will search for him as if he were my father.”
Context: spoken by Oedipus to the people of Thebes at the beginning of the play. Oedipus wants to lift the plague that is on
his people and finding the murderer of Laius is the only way to do this.
Meaning: Oedipus will search for the murder of Laius as if Laius was his father, meaning that he will take this search very
seriously as if his own father were killed.
Significance (link to theme): This quote illustrates the use of situational irony and the theme of inescapable fate throughout
the text. Oedipus and the reader do not realize at the time that Laius really is Oedipus’s father, and Oedipus is the one that
killed him, fulfilling his fate. This use of irony highlights the theme that one cannot escape his fate and makes Oedipus’
downfall all the more tragic.
NOW, PUT IT ALL TOGETHER!
I used the quote, “I will search for him as if he were my father” to reinforce the theme of inescapable fate (insert quote).
This quote was spoken by Oedipus to the people of Thebes at the beginning of the play. Oedipus wants to lift the plague that
is on his people and finding the murderer of Laius is the only way to do this (context). The quote is stating that Oedipus will
search for the murder of Laius as if Laius was his father, meaning that he will take this search very seriously as if his own
father were killed (meaning). This quote is significant because this quote illustrates the use of situational irony and the theme
of inescapable fate throughout the text. Oedipus and the reader do not realize at the time that Laius really is Oedipus’s father,
and Oedipus is the one that killed him, fulfilling his fate. This use of irony highlights the theme that one cannot escape his
fate and makes Oedipus’ downfall all the more tragic (significance).
Your turn:
Quote #1:
Context:
Meaning:
Significance:
Put it together:
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Quote #2:
Context:
Meaning:
Significance:
Put it together:
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Quote #3 (enriched only):
Context:
Meaning:
Significance:
Put it together:
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Quote #4 (enriched only):
Context:
Meaning:
Significance:
Put it together:
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**********THIS IS DUE AT THE END OF THE PERIOD FOR POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!